San Francisco Chronicle article on artificial turf study

CalRecycle's October released study on artificial turf has been getting some press lately, including this article in The San Francisco Chronicle. The article explains that the study's findings on the health risks associated with using artificial turf on athletic and sports fields, which conclude that abrasions are most likely the only health risk.

Detractors of artificial turf like to say that bacteria found in artificial turf, not natural grass, leads to more infections, but the study has found the evidence toward that claim to be inconclusive.

However, the study did find a higher percentage of abrasions with artificial turf. The article states, "That college soccer players suffer far more skin abrasions when they play on artificial turf than with natural grass. [The study] recommends working to prevent those abrasions, in part through protective clothing and equipment."

Here is a link to a PDF of the study. For more information about artificial turf and California's efforts for reusing tires, go to Calrecycle's website. 

Rubber Bark's clean bill of health

It's difficult enough making sure the kiddos are safely playing on playground equipment, but to have to worry about them inhaling or their skin being susceptible to toxic chemicals is a drag. Good thing Rubber Bark™ passed all its safety and health tests with flying colors.

 Detractors like to say that rubber mulch has potentially harmful traces of lead, phthalates (plasicizers that is being phased out in most developed countries) and other metals. Most of what they say is untrue. But Rubber Bark doesn't just say it's safe. It proves it with all the statistics on the lack of chemicals in rubber mulch that one would ever want to read.

This link provides a table with the amounts of chemicals found in Rubber Bark™, which met the standards for the Consumer Protection Safety Improvement Act this year.

Rubber Bark™ - keeps the environment green while being chemically "clean."

Cost Comparison- Rubber Bark™ v. Other in-store brands

We at Rubber Bark™ want to offer our customers the lowest price on rubber mulch, so we often compare prices with other brands that are in stores, especially big box stores, and see how Rubber Bark™ fares. Again and again, we are surprised at the high prices for such small bags.

-At Home Depot, Vigoro brand rubber mulch bags are $8.97 for .8 cubic ft.
-At Lowe's Rubberific Brown Mulch bags are $10.96 for .8 cubic ft. and RePlay Brown Mulch bags are $8.76 for .8 cubic ft.
-At Ace Hardware Nuscape® Earthtone Rubber Nuggets bags are $10.99 for .8 cubic ft. and Rubberific Rubber mulch bags are $12.49 for 10 sq. ft. at 1" depth of mulch


Generally, these bags weigh around 16 to 20 lbs. So, from anywhere between $8-$12.50 a bag that comes to about 50 to 78 cents per pound, while Rubber Bark™ sells its rubber mulch in a variety of colors at $15 for a 40 lb. bag. That comes to about 38 cents per pound. 


If you need 3,000 lbs. of mulch for a large project, getting some at the stores that are quoted above will cost about $1,875. If you buy Rubber Bark™, it will cost $1,125. Buying directly from Rubber Bark™ can save customers $750! (We also have 2,100 lb. super sacks for large projects!) 


But saving money isn't the only thing worth saving. Rubber Bark™ also ships DIRECTLY to your home, so you don't have to haul 20 lb. bags to and from the car!


Go to the website and there is a handy form to fill out, and the most accurate price can be quoted for the space that needs Rubber Bark™. 


Happy mulching!

What can Rubber Bark™ be used for?

Here at the buzz we have featured many ways in which Rubber Bark™ can be used including landscaping, playgrounds, art, transportation projects and wait, hey, we just thought of a new one... ROCK CLIMBING AND ATHLETIC GYMS!

Rock climbing gym in Minnesota using
rubber mulch as ground cover

Most rock climbing gyms need a flexible and durable ground cover to help the climbers in "the fall zone" and last a long time with heavy foot traffic without eroding. Because most modern rock climbing gyms are equipped with synthetic walls and holders, rubber is a great choice to round out the flexibility of the gym. A lot of rock climbing gyms currently have rubber mats for climbers to sit (which are great alternatives, check out some options here) but if safety is a first priority, rubber mulch is known to be more flexible, especially at higher heights.

Do you have other ways in mind that Rubber Bark™ can be used? Or know of an indoor rock climbing gym or athletic gym that would benefit from some Rubber Bark™?

If so, leave 'em in the comments section.

CalRecycle's "Green Roads" video

CalRecycle put up a video about its "Green Roads" campaign on YouTube. Let's pave (no pun intended) the way for the rest of the country with our tire recycleness!

How they do it up north

We in California are not the only ones getting in on the tire-recycling action. In Ashren, Canada, which is in the province of Manitoba, a former cattle rancher has found new life (and work) recycling some of Manitoba's yearly pile up of 1.4 million tires. Peter Schroedter started Off the Road (OTR) Recycling to reuse off-road industrial tires and turn them into cattle troughs and asphalt filler. Read the article from the Winnipeg Free Press here.

Schroedter details the trials of recycling tires, saying "A hockey puck is about 95 hardness. Most of our rubber is in the high 70s from mining tires, and our softest is 60. Car tires are 58." 

"Green" construction for new BART line includes rubber mulch

From CalRecycle:

SACRAMENTO—The Bay Area Rapid Transit District intends to incorporate “green” construction in a planned route extension by using recycled tires underneath the new rail lines. The decision is applauded by the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), which has invested long hours to promote the use of tire-derived aggregate (TDA) in engineering projects.

 TDA is shredded tire rubber used as a replacement for naturally mined materials such as gravel, but has numerous additional advantages. It is safe, reliable, and above all, a cost-effective option that keeps waste tires out of landfills. When used under rail tracks, TDA acts to reduce noise and vibration that can affect nearby buildings and residences. 

“Not only is TDA a truly ‘green’ construction alternative, but it saves money and works extremely well. It makes sense to use TDA whenever possible and we’re pleased it will be used in the Silicon Valley Extension Project,” said CalRecycle Director Margo Reid Brown. “It hasn’t been a quick or easy process to convince municipal planners that TDA is a viable option. We have our early adopters on board, but now we need to continue to expand the market.”

In addition to its noise-dampening attributes, TDA acts as a stable lightweight fill that can be used as a retaining wall backfill and to construct embankments. It also has superior drainage properties when used in landfill drainage systems. Using TDA, millions of dollars can be saved and hundreds of thousands of old tires put to good use, depending on the size of a given project.

CalRecycle experts have worked for more than a decade to promote the use of TDA. Their efforts received a big boost after the Federal Transportation Authority, a major funding source for light rail systems around the country, accepted the use of TDA in the BART Silicon Valley Extension Project that will run from Warm Springs to Milpitas and Berryessa Road in San Jose. A later project will extend the BART route into downtown San Jose. 

Construction of the new BART extension using TDA will begin in 2012.

In 1999, CalRecycle commissioned the first field test of TDA as a vibration dampening material. The results of that test led the firm to recommend that the Valley Transportation Authority use TDA for its Vasona Line light-rail extension in Santa Clara County.

Before proceeding, the Valley Transportation Authority built a test section of the TDA vibration track in its San Jose railyard. CalRecycle supplied the TDA, and monitored construction and testing of this 2001 pilot project. Ultimately, VTA decided to proceed with construction using TDA, and CalRecycle agreed to follow up with post-construction analysis after the route opened in 2005. Use of TDA as part of the Vasona Line extension resulted in a savings of $1 million and kept 100,000 old tires out of the state’s landfills.

The Federal Transportation Authority, which is helping to finance the BART extension, wanted further proof that TDA would continue to perform well. CalRecycle again funded tests of the existing Vasona Line, and the results showed that TDA continued to perform well. The FTA was also convinced the product is cost-effective, high-performing and a common-sense approach to vibration dampening. 

CalRecycle is currently promoting the use of recycled tires through its Green Roads campaign. California generates more than 40 million scrap tires every year. While nearly 75 percent of used tires are recycled, the rest still end up in landfills or illegal stockpiles. If not managed properly, scrap tires are a potential threat to both California's environment and public health and safety. Illegally stockpiled tires also pose a fire risk and are attractive habitats for rodents and insects.

NASCAR gets in on the rubber mulch action

Rubber mulch is making headway into the big leagues these days, with entrepreneurs and landscape designers recycling NASCAR's old Goodyear tires for mulch and other home decor.

From an article in The Sacramento Bee:

NASCAR tires: A coveted conversation piece for high-octane man caves, tables using a race-worn tire as a base are popular with NASCAR fans (see NascarTire.com), but those big blackwalls have other uses, too. The Sprint Cup series consumes about 600 tires per race; that's more than 24,000 a season. Instead of dumping the 20-pound tires into landfills, companies such as Goodyear (NASCAR's tire provider) have started turning them into such products as patio pavers and shredded rubber mulch. Entrepreneurs also make beverage coolers out of NASCAR tires -- perfect for tailgating. 

600 tires a race may not seem like that much (actually that is quite a lot!) but over 24,000 a season at 20 pounds a piece is about 480,000 pounds of wasted tires NOT going into landfills! Good on you, NASCAR.

Review Rubber Bark™ on Facebook

We have added a nifty reviews tab on Rubber Bark's facebook page. It would be great for all those that check into the blog and/or are Rubber Bark's facebook fans to add their reviews, if they feel so inclined. Haven't tried Rubber Bark™ yet? Go to the website to get a quote for your next landscaping project!

Rubber Bark™ on Playgrounds Unlimited and other news

One of our distributors, Playgrounds Unlimited in the San Francisco Bay Area, has a great web page about Rubber Bark™ and its safety as a ground cover for playgrounds. Check it out.

Tire-Derived Products (TDP) Grants from CalRecycle for public projects still has an undetermined start date when applications are available. However, one, if they are so inclined, may join this Listserv and CalRecycle will contact you, via email, when the dates are known.

CalRecycle also put up this neat web page about Greenroads, a project that promotes tire-derived products as road paving material (rubberized asphalt concrete, or RAC) and Tire Derived Aggregate (TDA), material such as Rubber Bark™!

Also, did you see the article about Rubber Bark™ and CalRecycle's grant program in the Merced-Sun Star?

And lastly, remember this post about rubber mulch as art, with a link to a video of a sculpture largely made up of recycled tire mulch? Well, rubber mulch has again found itself in the illustrious art world, but this time it has taken dance as its medium to express creativity. In a New York Times review of "Wilderness," a moving dance installation, it compares walking on an oval patch of rubber mulch to "walking on foam" calling it "a sensation both playful and eerie."

Video about recycling tires into mulch!

The Best Ways to Recycle Tires -- powered by eHow.com

Update about grants

As most of you may know, the time to start applying for CalRecycle's grants have been pushed back from October to the middle of November. (UPDATE: the application start time has been pushed back from today to another two weeks by CalRecycle. We at the buzz will keep you posted on further changes- Eds.) So if you have a project in mind, the time is now! We have a great staff at Rubber Bark™ willing to help potential projects with filling out the application and crunching numbers. Here is a new, improved press release about the grants and Rubber Bark™:

CalRecycle Tire-Derived Product Grants Available Mid-November 

BALLICO, CA (November 10, 2010) — In an effort to promote the use of products made from California’s millions of waste tires, The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) is now offering grants through its Tire-Derived Product (TDP) program for public entity projects.

Rubber Bark™ works closely with CalRecycle and supports the use of the grants for public projects, which in turn build sustainable market demand. Ag Link, Inc., the company that makes Rubber Bark™, is dedicated to helping entities develop successful projects through project planning and assistance with the grant application itself, which will be due in January of next year.

To be eligible for a grant the grantee must be a public entity, such as a city, county, or public school (full list available online). Approved projects are granted 100 percent financial reimbursement to buy Rubber Bark™ and/or other tire-derived products for their project. 

Projects may include updating a school’s playground, creating an outside community area in a housing development, or renovating existing landscape.  Eligibility and grant criteria can be found at www.calrecycle.ca.gov/Tires/Grants/Product/default.htm

“CalRecycle’s grants give public entities the chance to implement facilities improvement projects that may otherwise be stalled or postponed in this difficult economy,” Rubber Bark™ CEO Jana Nairn said. 

“The simple, straight forward grant application usually results in 100 percent reimbursement of a tire derived product like, Rubber Bark™.”

For more information about Rubber Bark™ and the grants available by CalRecycle go to www.rubberbark.com.  

Video about rubber mulch

Here is another video from HGTV talking about some of the advantages of rubber mulch. We are glad they mention something that is usually overlooked by contractors and landscape TV hosts, which is that it is good for the environment. Way to go Chip Wade and Jamie Durie!

Rubber mulch as art

Sometimes we like to scope the interwebs for cool stuff going on with the recycled rubber industry. Although we come across a lot of things, we never thought we would come across rubber mulch being used for projects other than intended purposes, but if there is a will, there is a way.

Check out this facebook video of a rubber mulch art sculpture.

Come to think of it, rubber mulch is a great art medium, as it is easy to transport, malleable, and can be used as part of the "recycled art" phenomenon currently taking place, in which all materials for art projects are found objects or reused.

Why Rubber Bark™ is important for fall and winter mulching

Autumn is definitely upon us, and as the leaves are changing colors and falling to the ground, its important to remember your landscape's health and vitality now for the upcoming spring. Most people agree that mulching is one of the best ways to keep soil fresh and plants happy in the cold seasons. And while mulch made of wood, newspaper and other natural fibers will certainly get the job done (but are known to leak nitrogen from the soil), it behooves the thoughtful landscaper to ponder a little deeper, and chose a product that will get the job done well. 


To say it plainly, Rubber Bark™ simply holds its place better and longer than other mulches. It doesn't deteriorate over time or due to adverse weather and/or flooding. A downpour can be great for your plants, but it certainly isn't good for the staying power of your wood mulch. With Rubber Bark™ there are no worries about longevity. It's made to last for as many seasons as you want it. It retains its vibrant color and is heavy enough to stay in its area.

In freezing climates, winter mulching serves an even greater purpose than keeping the yard looking nice. According to Professor Perry at the University of Vermont Extension Department of Plant and Soil Science in an article entitled "Mulch to Prevent Winter Injury,"

Mulch is a standard form of winter protection for many shallow-rooted plants.  While in summer it is effective in retaining soil moisture, preventing erosion, and controlling weeds, in winter it acts as insulation for the soil and plant roots.

Failure to mulch landscape plants and evergreen shrubs may lead to serious winter root injury.  Alternate thawing and freezing of unmulched soil as temperatures warm during the day and drop at night may cause frost heaving in the spring.  Freezing and thawing occurs mainly in the fall and spring, and in fall may keep perennials from hardening properly or cause injury to unhardened plants.

Professor Perry recommends a two to three inch layer of winter mulch. Late October to early November is also the best time to start the winter vegetable garden, however winter vegetables are particularly susceptible to the onslaught of moisture depleting weeds, thus another important reason for winter mulching. The best crops for a great winter garden with protection from mulch include beets, carrots, onions, parsnips, rutabagas, and turnips.


We will be updating more about tips for the cold season, until then happy fall mulching and gardening! 

PBS coming soon!

We are getting really excited about PBS's Curiosity Quest Goes Green coming to film at our Ballico facility on October 27th that we thought we would regale our blog readers with more clips and info about our former spots in the well, spotlight.

Here is a link to a good little video about rubber mulch and the vibrancy of its colors on HGTV.

Also, here is a clip from Yardcrashers featuring Rubber Bark™ being used for a play area, and the cutest little kid saying, "I'm ok, cause this stuff is rubber!" after he falls off his swing.

CalRecycle offering grants for public entities!

Great news on the recycled tire front: CalRecycle, one of our favorite government organizations, is offering grants to fund a tire-derived product for public entities, private schools (with additional qualifications) and Community Housing Development Organizations throughout California. This includes Native American tribes, park districts, and public universities.  We would love to see one of these entities get a grant, as a lot of them are the ones that need it most. However, we believe any entity (a full list can be seen here) can make great use of these grants, especially using Rubber Bark™ :).

A few qualifications include:

• Products must be made from 100 percent recycled California waste tires

• Products must be "new," as in never before received CalRecyle funding

•Projects must divert a minimum of 2,500 California tires per project

The grants are available to apply for on October 27th and will be awarded in the spring of next year. For more information, go to CalRecycle's page about the grants. Good luck!

LEED credits and how to earn 'em using Rubber Bark™

A couple of posts back it was mentioned on this blog that California is leading the nation in green building projects, jobs, and general infrastructure.  Currently, California is second, behind Mississippi, for home projects obtaining LEED credits. Below is a press release about the LEED rating system and how to earn credits using Rubber Bark™.

California Paves the Way For Green Projects

 Greening New and Existing Construction Using LEED and Rubber Bark™

 BALLICO, CA (October 7, 2010) —An estimated $12.5 billion in GDP and 230,000 new jobs from LEED-related projects are predicted in the next four years in California, making it one of the “greenest” states in the nation. According to the USGBC (The United States Green Building Council) Green Jobs Study that came out last month, the number of projects in California has increased by 300 percent in the past few years.

 Environmentally friendly building material companies such as Rubber Bark™ understands the importance for new construction, as well as improvement to existing buildings to gain LEED certification. Using Rubber Bark™ offers an opportunity for green projects to earn LEED credits.

 According to the USGBC, “The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating Systemrate new and existing commercial, institutional, and high-rise residential buildings according to their environmental attributes and sustainable features.”

 A project team may earn LEED credits by utilizing Rubber Bark™ in three different ways, including a “materials and resources” point as Rubber Bark™ is made from 100 percent recycled tires. Another point may be earned under the “materials and resources category if the project site is within 500 miles of Rubber Bark’s manufacturing facility in Ballico, CA. And lastly, a “water efficient landscape credit” will be given for those projects that incorporate Rubber Bark™ into their landscape design, reducing the amount of water needed for maintaining a beautiful landscape.

 “We are thrilled to see projects earning LEED certification in California, that’s why we offer a variety of ways to gain credits for projects,” said CEO of Rubber Bark™ Jana Nairn. “We want companies and organizations to start green practices and continue them through their project’s completion.”

 LEED is the standard for US green building design. The October 2002 edition of Health Facilities Management noted that, “LEED has become the common benchmark for sustainability.”

Rubber Bark™ is going to be on TV!

Yes, you read it right, Rubber Bark™ will be spotlighted on the PBS show Curiosity Quest Goes Green! This is not the first time Rubber Bark™ has appeared on TV (more on that after the jump) however we are very excited to have them visit our Ballico facility and spread (no pun intended) the word about Rubber Bark™ and environmentally friendly landscape products. The air date is still being decided, but the nice folks, including the host Joel Greene,  will be at the Rubber Bark™ plant to film in October. Until then check out the show's website.

New photos on the web

Hooray! Rubber Bark™ now has its own Flickr account! Click on the link to check out the many ways Rubber Bark™ is used. 

New building codes in California coming soon

Starting in 2011, California will lead the nation in promoting and instilling new building codes that have high green standards, making all new construction more environmentally friendly. This is a big deal, and Rubber Bark™ understands its part in the new ideas. Here is a news release with the details:

New Building Codes Propel California’s Green Construction Standards

 BALLICO, CA (September 15, 2010) — A new mandatory green building standards code will be implemented in California starting in January 2011, pioneering green construction and integration for the rest of the nation.

 Moisture-sensing irrigation systems for large landscape projects will be required, as will a reduction of waste going into landfills by 50 percent. Rubber Bark™, a recycled rubber mulch made from California’s tires, is in a unique position to provide a product that both reduces landfill waste and retains soil moisture levels.

 "This is something no other state in the country has done - integrating green construction practices into the very fabric of the construction code," said Tom Sheehy, Acting Secretary of the California State and Consumer Services Agency and Chair of the Building Standards Commission. 


 In addition to decreasing landfill waste, Rubber Bark™ is a cost-effective way to comply with CALGreen standards, while keeping the quality of beautiful landscaping.

A customer that says it all

Thank you to Tracy from Turlock for sending us this letter of appreciation. We appreciate you as well! Here is her letter: 

Rob (Rubber Bark's CFO),  

 We came this morning and picked up a 1,000 pound bed load of the Redwood Rubber Bark™ loose. We were happy that you were able to provide us this product without using additional packaging materials for less of a carbon footprint.  It makes us feel good to purchase products that support our local economy and job market, while helping to reduced our local landfills by purchasing your product.

Your employee Pedro that loaded our truck was friendly and VERY skillful.

Thank you, 

Tracy 

Turlock

We love how Tracy mentions her decreased carbon footprint and using local products to help stimulate the local economy. Both are important for future commerce!

Our Redwood Rubber Bark™

Did you know?

That Rubber Bark™ is the recommended choice for recycled tire products on the Stanislaus County environmental resources page? Take a look, there is also a good yes/no chart comparing rubber to wood mulch.

More updates coming this week, along with some exciting news from the other side of the pond!

Stay tuned!

Recess Time!

A new press release is out about playground safety and playground related injuries. Most injuries could be avoided with a sufficient amount of padding when children fall from playground equipment. 

Presently, most playgrounds still use sand, cement or wood mulch (which doesn't have the flexibility rubber has) as playground flooring. This needs to change! It's so much easier and safer to put in rubber mulch. Check out the release about details on playground fall heights and other tips for a safer playground. 

Less Playground Injuries With Recycled Rubber Flooring

BALLICO, CA (September 7, 2010)— With most schools back in full swing students will once again be playing on playground equipment at recess, which, in turn leads to an increased likelihood in playground injuries due to falls. However, schools and parents with home playgrounds are catching on to safe flooring alternatives to grass, sand, or wood mulch.

Inorganic mulches, such as Rubber Bark™ cushion playground tumbles better than wood mulch or hard surfaces because rubber is inherently a shock absorbing material. Also, rubber mulch doesn’t break down like wood mulch so the safety factor is maintained from year to year without having to add more material.

According to The Consumer Product Safety Commission wood mulch should be at least 12” thick, while rubber only needs to be 6” for the same fall height.

Fall height test results certify that Rubber Bark™ installed and maintained at a 4” depth meets the ASTM standard for Impact Attenuation of surface systems under and around playground equipment from a height of 9’.

In California and other states, The CPSC estimates that there are more than 200,000 injuries every year linked with playground structures. Studies for a CPSC report conclude that most of the injuries occur when a child falls from the equipment onto the ground.

Rubber Bark™ understands the importance of child safety.  Other measures to decrease the likelihood of playground falls include:

-       Protective surfacing should extend at least six feet in all directions

-       Structures, if more than 30 inches high, should be spaced 9 feet apart

-       Remove tripping hazards such as large rocks and tree stumps

-       Spaces such as openings in guardrails and between ladder rungs should measure less than 3.5 inches or more than 9 inches

(Source: The Consumer Product Safety Commission)

Decrease YOUR carbon footprint

Everyday the decisions we make affect the environment. From the type of car we drive to the amount of water we use while brushing our teeth, our activities can help/harm the world around us.

Choosing to waste less, save more, recycle, and use recycled products are some of the easiest yet influential actions we as consumers can do to make the world a more sustainable place.

Rubber Bark™, made of recycled rubber tires, is one of the many products that reduces the user's carbon footprint because it is creating something useful from material that would otherwise go into a landfill.  Rubber Bark™ prevents 4 million tires from becoming waste each year!

Regardless of politics and religion, humans are the caretakers of the planet and should be responsible stewards. Too much is at stake not to be. So do your part, and we will do ours.

We want your photos!

Do you use Rubber Bark™ in your front yard, back yard, playground or community park? We want to know! Send us your photos and we will post them to this blog, Facebook and more. You will get the prestige, and we will get to see what creative things our customers are doing with Rubber Bark™.

Send the photos here or here.

Below is the first entry from Modesto, CA. See how Rubber Bark™ is used to outline the trees? Such a good way to keep the soil fresh and to beautify the yard!

Rubber Bark™ used in a rental property in Modesto, CA.

Rubber Bark™ and Water Conservation in California

Water conservation has been an ongoing struggle in California. The landscaping industry is in a unique position to offer alternatives to grass and organic mulch in yards, parks, golf courses and other community spots that waste thousands of gallons of water a day. Below is a press release about information regarding water conservation and inorganic mulches. Also, after the release, is some information about an agricultural bill that just passed California's Senate which prevents policies from banning artificial turf, in another effort to conserve California's depleting water resources.

California’s New Water Conservation Efforts Shine Light On Alternative Landscape Options

 BALLICO, CA (August 22, 2010) — Recently, California began implementing new water policies that will have broad-reaching effects on the state’s water resources. In order to save water from evaporation, whether it’s been in the agricultural fields of California’s 250 crops, or residential yards, alternatives to daily irrigation are imperative to making water resources viable in the future.

Beyond the old approaches of only watering on certain days or allowing runoff on fallow fields, new alternatives are saving California’s water while being environmentally friendly and cost-effective.

 Rubber Bark™ by Ag Link is landscape mulch made from millions of California’s recycled tires, which has become the preferred mulch to use in order to decrease evaporation and keep soil healthy year-round.

 “Rubber Bark™ is an environmentally friendly product. It takes a waste product (old tires) and turns them into a water saving opportunity while providing real positive characteristics and aesthetics to a landscape or playground of any size,” said Rob Nairn, Chief Financial Officer of Rubber Bark™.

 According to the California Agricultural Water Stewardship Initiative, mulching is seen as one of the best ways to minimize evaporation and improve soil structure.

 “It’s really effective,” said Julie Saare-Edmonds, Landscape Specialist at California’s Department of Water Resources, about mulching. “[It] keeps the soil cool, and blocks out weeds, creating less competition for water.”

 Reducing water demand is one of the main strategies proposed by California’s Department of Water Resources to help curb water depletion. Landscaping measures are an essential part of the conservation efforts.

 Rubber Bark™ is a long-term solution to drought management. It does not deteriorate like organic mulches, and stays in place during inclement weather and flooding. Rubber Bark™ is available at landscape and playground supply centers and online.

It happens everyday, Part 3

Either by accident or intentional for YouTube videos and entertainment purposes, kids of all ages fall off playgrounds everyday in America. While some are merely slight tumbles, many result in injuries due to the height of the fall and the hardness of the landing surface. Most of the videos show children falling on wood chips or sand, which have little flexibility to help pad the landing. A press release about playground safety and rubber mulch will be up on the blog in a couple of days, but for now check out the videos and cringe.

It happens everyday, Part 2

It happens everyday

"I'm alright, it's Rubber Bark™"

Here is a YouTube video that has been making its way through the interwebs. What is great about this video (like all the best videos on YouTube) is that it was NOT STAGED! Check it out:

Every Customer is a Happy Customer at Rubber Bark™ (but few write in to tell us so!)

A couple of days ago, Rubber Bark's CFO, Rob, got a letter from a customer, which was originally sent to The California Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery, better known as CalRecycle. Here is what the letter said:

Dear Mr. Levenson,  

I just wanted to let you know about a positive experience I recently had with Rubber Bark™, one of the companies associated with CalRecycle. 

When I started working on my yard I knew that I wanted to use mulch to keep the weeds from recurring. I also wanted to use recycled products if at all possible. After contacting several companies to get bids on rubber bark/mulch I found that Rubber Bark™ (based in Ballico, California) offered the most competitive bid. This is also a plus because, as a lifelong California resident, I wanted to support a business based in my home state. I contacted Rubber Bark™ and bought three tons of rubber bark to landscape my backyard. 

The rubber bark was delivered on time and I started to spread it out on my backyard. However, I was concerned about how the product looked after I had applied about half a ton. I then stopped and called Rob Nairn. He told me he would make it right and do whatever it took to satisfy me as a customer. He gave me several options and did not pressure me to select any of the choices. As it turned out, the best option was to have more Rubber Bark™ delivered. Rob arranged everything and made sure that the materials would arrive when they were needed. The yard looks great and I have Rob to thank for it. 

After working with Rob I can fully support using recycled rubber in general and specifically on my landscaping projects. Thank you for partnering with a professional company that recycles "challenging" material and treats its customers with respect. 

Sincerely, 

Peter Goul

Great job Rob! Rubber Bark™ continues to support its customers by offering competitive prices and personal service with every order. Go to the website to check out the product!

Rubber Bark™ Joins the 21st Century!

Today, Rubber Bark™, the west coast's best rubber mulch recycled tire company, is launching its Facebook page, and now has Google ads that link to the website for easier promotion, information, and the ability to order online. Here is the press release for more details:

Leading Recycled Tire Products Company Launches Social Media Campaign

BALLICO, CA (August 5, 2010)— Rubber Bark™, one of the largest recycled rubber companies on the west coast, is launching its online social media campaign, in collaboration with Manex, a manufacturing consulting firm.

The campaign, funded by a grant from CalRecycle under its Tire Business Assistance Program (TBAP),  will include a Wikipedia page detailing the company’s progress and products, a Facebook profile with timely updates on events and product deals, and a LinkedIn account enabling Rubber Bark™ to network with other companies and expand its market base.

“It’s the next step for our company,” said Rubber Bark™ Chief Executive Officer Jana Nairn. “As far as marketing and exposure goes, we are trying to stay ahead of the pack.”

Many organizations, including mid-sized companies such as Rubber Bark™, are employing social media as part of their communication approaches.  According to an article on Mashable, one of the leading websites on social media, a study done by The University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business earlier this year concluded that one in five small businesses are integrating social media into their practices.

“It’s a way to reach more people faster,” said Robert Nairn, Chief Financial Officer of Rubber Bark™.  “We think it’s important to have a lot of information about Rubber Bark™ available in different mediums.”

The campaign will be ongoing and will include special promotions and information about Rubber Bark™ as well as give details on its efforts to remain an environmentally friendly product and cost effective landscape and playground covering.

About the company:

Rubber Bark™ is manufactured by Ag Link, Inc., a major recycled tire product manufacturer affiliated with tire recycler Golden By-Products, Inc. Established in 1994, Ag Link, Inc. is the largest producer of rubber products on the west coast.


Woohoo! Along with this shiny new blog, Rubber Bark™ is off to a great start!